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Generations

Remember me when I am dead   and simplify me when I'm dead. Keith Douglas GENERATIONS   OR   WHAT DID YOU DO IN THE WAR GRANDAD? Brian Wright BBC World Service 1996 [WNYE] The poem written by World War Two Poet, Keith Douglas is the theme of this play:   Simplify me when I'm Dead Remember me when I am dead   and simplify me when I'm dead.   As the processes of earth   strip off the colour and the skin   take the brown hair and blue eye               5   and leave me simpler than at birth   when hairless I came howling in   as the moon came in the cold sky.   Of my skeleton perhaps   so stripped, a learned man will say                       10 'He was of such a type and intelligence,' no more.   Thus when in a year collapse   particular memories, you may   deduce, from the long pain I bore                 the opinions I held, who was my foe           15 and what I left, even my appearance   but incidents will be no guide.   Time's wrong-way telescope will show   a minute man ten years hence   and by distance simplified.                           20   Through that lens see if I seem   substance or nothing: of the world   deserving mention or charitable oblivion   not by momentary spleen   or love into decision hurled                                     25 leisurely arrive at an opinion.   Remember me when I am dead   and simplify me when I'm dead.    

This recording is part of the Old Time Radio collection.

Chapters

Generations or What Did You Do in the War Grandad

1:01:40